Tunca's 19 points, Mingo's 15 push Penn State 76-68 past Fairfield

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Tunca's 19 points, Mingo's 15 push Penn State 76-68 past Fairfield

Associated Press | Monday, November 3, 2025 9:29 p.m.

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Penn State forward Sasa Ciani tries to score over Fairfield forward Brandon Benjamin during the first half of Monday’s season opener.

UNIVERSITY PARK — Melih Tunca scored 19 points and had six assists, and Kayden Mingo added 15 points to lead Penn State to a 75-68 win over Fairfield in the season opener for both teams Monday night.

Penn State trailed by three points with 2 minutes, 17 seconds remaining but pulled away with an 11-0 run over the final two minutes. Tunca had six of those points, hitting a tying 3-pointer at the two-minute mark. He was 7 of 11 from the field.

Tibor Mirtic added a game-high 11 rebounds along with six points.

Fairfield opened the game on a 12-0 scoring run, but Penn State quickly cut into the deficit, leaving it 37-37 at the half.

Fairfield’s Braden Sparks led all scorers with 25 points, going 5 of 12 from 3-point range. Brandon Benjamin had 18 points and 10 rebounds and was 8 of 11 from the field.

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